Women's Golf 4th After Day 1 of U.S. Women's Invite

Maria Paola Fiorio had four birdies on the first day of the U.S. Women's Invitational. Photo by Joel Auerbach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Barry University's No. 6-ranked women's golf team is fourth after 36 holes at the United States Women's Invitational hosted by Belmont Abbey.

The Bucs shot 315-307 -- 622 in the opening two rounds on the Pine Island Country Club 6,094-yard, par-72 course. Florida Southern leads the tournament after shooting 303-308 -- 611. Florida Tech is second at 314-305 -- 619. Newberry is third, one stroke ahead of the Buccaneers after shooting 307-314- 621.

Barry's Maria Paola Fiorio shot 77-78 -- 155 to fall into a tie for 11th after the first two rounds. Fiorio had three birdies in the opening round and one more in the second.

Bucs teammates Nicky Ferre and Nancy Vergara are tied for 13th. Ferre shot 81-75 -- 156, with a birdie on the 382-yard No. 5 in the second round. Vergara shot 76-80 -- 156, sinking a birdie putt on the 166-yard 17th hole in the opening round.

Taylor Babcock shot 84-75 -- 159, and is 20th individually. Babcock had two birdies in the second round and one in the first. Daniela Murray shot 81-79 -- 160, and is tied for 21st. Murray birdied the 351-yard ninth hole in the second round.

Flagler's Olivia Ferrer shot 2-over 146 with back-to-back 73s to take a two-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round. Newberry's Lisa Brandl and Florida Southern's Megan Kiley are tied for second at 148. UNC-Pembroke's Meghan Moore is fourth at 149, while FSC's Emily Rymer and Florida Tech's Jessica Hook are tied for fifth at 151.